The Knesset on Monday 4 Menachem Av approved a bill in a 69-17 vote that increases the punishment for rock-throwing to five years imprisonment. It was a stormy plenum session as Arab Members of Knesset the rock attacks against civilians but the bill passed its second and third (final) votes. The bill addresses hurling a rock or another object at a traveling vehicle.

It is explained the bill was aimed at assisting law enforcement in cutting the number of rock attacks, adding there are currently 1,000 criminal indictments annually for rock attacks, adding one-third of the Jerusalem Prosecutor’s cases involved rock-throwing attacks and generally speaking, the courts hand down light sentences for the cases that are adjudicated.

The Arab MKs pointed out that IDF soldiers are armed with guns while the Arab youths have rocks, questioning why such a law is not legislated against the gun holders to protect the Arab children. MK Dr. Ahmed Tibi added that when police confront violent Jews at a protest the order is given not to open fire while in the same situation involving Arabs, soldiers or police will open fire.

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked said “Today justice was done. For years terrorists escaped the law. Tolerance towards terrorists comes to a halt today. Rock throwers are terrorists and only appropriate punishment may serve as a deterrence as well as a just punishment”

MK Dr. Tibi’s response to the speaker:

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)